Thursday, February 13, 2014

Avon Ultra Colour Absolute Lipstick

I say it all the time, so you likely know this- Avon makes some truly excellent lipstick! They just do. They're always creamy and pigmented, and if you look for a sale can go for as little as $4. What's not to love about that? Well, get ready for more to love because the new Ultra Colour Absolute Lipstick formula is pretty much amazing. More so than before- bet you didn't even know that was possible. Read on!

'Protect your lips from the elements!Experience a lipstick so rich in moisture, conditioners and antioxidants it continues to condition lips, even after you take it off. Formulated with 50% moisturizing ingredients including vitamin E, vitamin C, collagen, phytol, anti-oxidants, and SPF 15.' - Avon

The new Ultra Colour Absolute lipsticks are housed in the same style tube as the newly updated Ultra Colour Lipsticks, but with a transparent pink cap. It would have been nice if they had left the top of the cap clear for easy viewing, but I guess you can't win them all.

The main difference between the Ultra Colour Absolute range and the standard Ultra Colours is the hydrating factore built into the Ultra Colour Absolutes. While the standard lipsticks feel pretty great on the Absolute formula is balmy and ultra comfortable. The shades slick on easily as a balm but with all the pigmentation of a standard lipstick. I tend to wear some sort of balm under all lipstick, but these don't need it because they actually hydrate lips. Yup, these really hydrate as well as a lip balm!

Creamy Melon is just that- a creamy melon shade- or a pinky-peach toned coral if you'd like that description better. While this shade is gorgeous, and will be amazing for Spring, did want to cling to lip lines and imperfections. I've found this to be common with whitened type shades. Luckily, it's not an issue when seen in person; you know from a normal distance and not at macro level.

Pure Orchid is a blue based fuschia shade with slight violet tones. I love purple lip shades, so I would have liked to see this be a bit more purple, but the shade is quite pretty. Unlike Creamy Melon, this applies easily over lips with a perfectly smooth, shiny finish. The shade is a little sheer, but builds up to opaque with an extra pass.

Radiant Raisin is a deep plummy-burgundy shade. Like Pure Orchid, this shade is a little sheer with one pass but builds nicely on the lips. This is perfect if you want to try a bolder shade but aren't always comfortable with a super opaque finish.

Coffee Creme is a brown-nude that looks quite brown in the bullet, but is softer looking on lips as it has slight rose undertones. I really didn't think I'd like this shade but kind of love it on. It's the sort of shade that will look amazing on any skin tone as well.

As it happens, I had ordered myself a tube of Creamy Melon and Pure Orchid just days before I got press samples of the same shades. What am I to do with two duplicates?.... Host a little giveaway! Entering is super easy, just be a follower (GFC or Bloglovin') and leave me a comment below about whatever strikes your fancy. I'll choose a winner at random sometime next week- say... February 24th.

Overall, these are excellent lipsticks! There are currently only twelve shades, making this the smallest selection from Avon, but the shades cover a pretty wide variety and should provide something for everyone. Will you be trying these? What type of shade do you tend to go for?